Irrigation controller with vertically offset terminal connectors rows

ABSTRACT

An irrigation control device is provided that includes adjacent terminal connector rows having a ridge portion between the rows, where the ridge portion is configured to support and guide wires to the terminal connectors of one row, and to support these wires above wires retained in another row of terminal connectors. In some embodiments, one of the terminal connector rows includes a plurality of risers coupled to the terminal connectors positioned in that row. The risers provide a vertical offset between the adjacent terminal connector rows, as well as a secure electrical and mechanical connection point for the wires to connect to the circuit board directly, or alternatively to the corresponding electrical pads coupled to the circuit board. The housing may include divider walls that each provide an additional barrier or isolation between side-by-side electrical connection pads, terminal connectors and their associated wires.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.63/137,025, filed Jan. 13, 2021, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to irrigation controllers andspecifically relates to irrigation controllers having a terminalconnector block for connecting wiring from the controller to irrigationstation valves.

BACKGROUND

Terminal connector blocks for irrigation controllers are typicallyarranged in horizontal rows for an installer to access. Terminalconnections are locations on the controller to which wires are connectedto the controller. The wires can connect sensors to the controller atinput terminals or may connect devices controlled by the controller atoutput terminals. Output terminals are typically connected toelectrically actuated valves. For example, the controller switches anoutput AC signal to an output terminal, and a wire coupled to the outputterminal carries the AC signal to a solenoid that opens a valve allowingpressurized water to flow therethrough to one or more sprinklers. In atraditional controller, there are a variety of separate terminalsincluding AC voltage signal input terminals, sensor input terminals,accessory connection terminals, a common line output terminal, a mastervalve output terminal and multiple station output terminals. Anirrigation controller controlling eight stations will need eightseparate output connection terminals and a common terminal, whereas acontroller controlling twelve stations will need twelve separate outputconnection terminals and the common terminal. Increasing the number ofstations controlled increased the number of terminals needed, and thus,the space needed for the connector block (also referred to as aconnector strip). Many irrigation controllers are small and have limitedspace for a large number of output terminals. Moreover, physically andelectrically isolating terminal connectors and their associated wireswithin limited space becomes increasingly difficult.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Disclosed herein are embodiments of systems, apparatuses and methodspertaining to controlling irrigation. This description includesdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an irrigation controller with terminalconnector rows in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the terminal connector rows ofFIG. 1 in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the irrigation controller of FIG. 1 inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of a housing of theirrigation controller of FIG. 1 having divider walls according to someembodiments.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a circuit board with both the first andsecond electrical connection rows being provided without electricalconnection pads, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5B is a perspective view of a circuit board with electricalconnection pads provided in only the first terminal connector row, inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 6A is a simplified illustration of a side view of a screw-typeterminal connector coupled to a riser in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the terminal connector and riser ofFIG. 6A.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the circuit board of FIG. 5 havingterminal connectors fastened to the terminal connector rows inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the irrigation controller ofFIG. 1 with terminal connectors fastened to the terminal connector rows.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the irrigation controller of FIG. 1 withthe terminal connectors fastened to the terminal connector rows as shownin FIG. 8 and further including wires retained by the terminalconnectors in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the irrigation controller of FIG. 1 with theterminal connectors fastened to the terminal connector rows as shown inFIG. 8 and further showing a location of plane A-A′.

FIG. 11 is cross sectional view across plane A-A′ of the irrigationcontroller of FIG. 10.

Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity andhave not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensionsand/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures maybe exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improveunderstanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also,common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in acommercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order tofacilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of thepresent invention. Certain actions and/or steps may be described ordepicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in theart will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence isnot actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have theordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressionsby persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above exceptwhere different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, systems, devicesand methods are provided herein useful in providing and arrangingterminal connector blocks in irrigation controllers. Also includedherein are systems, devices and methods that are useful for electricallyand physically isolating terminal connectors using vertical offsets andhorizontal offsets between adjacent terminal connector blocks.Specifically, terminal connectors in one terminal connector row area arecoupled to vertical lifts or risers that elevate that row of terminalconnectors in a horizontal plane above another row of terminalconnectors. In addition, in some embodiments the housing includes aridge portion, that abuts or is located adjacent to the risers,providing additional physical and electrical separation of the rows ofwires connected to each of the terminal connector rows.

Throughout the figures and description, several views are shown of anirrigation controller, and/or portions or components thereof thatprovide an arrangement of terminal connector rows in accordance withsome embodiments. An irrigation controller typically includes a housing,a user interface (e.g., display screen, buttons, dials, lights, etc.), acontrol circuit and memory for controlling operation of the controllerand executing watering schedules, electrical connections for input power(or alternatively, a battery for power), other electrical components andswitches (e.g., relays or triacs), various input connectors for sensors,accessories, etc., and output connectors such as a station outputconnection terminals, common line and master valve output terminalconnections. The irrigation controller also includes a circuit boardhaving electrical connections, conduits, and traces between connectionlocations of the circuit board. The circuit board will have electricaldevices mounted thereto including a control circuit (not shown). Theelectrical devices may include, for example, a microprocessor,integrated circuit devices, one or more memories, switches, powercomponents, surge components, etc.

The embodiments herein have a number of advantages over known systems,devices, and methods, which will be made apparent throughout thedescription here. For example, the horizontal and vertical offsetbetween side-by-side oriented terminal connectors using the ridge of thehousing and the riser provides increased electrical and physicalisolation, which prevents shorts, and other controller misfunctions. Inaddition, multiple rows (two or more) of terminal connector blocks canbe oriented closely together in a small amount of space with ease ofaccess to all rows and with little risk of wire damage, electricalshorting and/or unintended wire disconnection. Further, wires may beconnected to electrical connection pads or the circuit board directlyand exiting the terminal connector rows in the same direction instead ofopposite or haphazard directions.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate an exemplary irrigation controller having a housing10 with an exterior front edge 86. The housing 10 of the irrigationcontroller includes various openings to accommodate user interfacefeatures and electrical connectors. In some embodiments, the housing 10includes a first row 12 of openings 14 that form a “first terminalconnector row area” and a second row 16 of openings 18 that form a“second terminal connector row area”. Individual openings in the housing10 are shown as reference numbers 14 and 18. In the views of FIGS. 1-3,a circuit board 60 of the irrigation controller is viewable through theopenings 14 and 18. The circuit board 60 is also viewable through adisplay screen opening 22 in FIGS. 1, 3, 9, and 10. As illustrated, eachfirst row 12 and second row 16 is formed with multiple openings 14 and18, respectively. In the illustrated embodiments, the first row 12 ofopenings 14 is adjacent to the second row 16 of openings 18 and in thesame horizontal plane. In, addition, the first row 12 and the second row16 are horizontally offset (in the x axis) from each other by an offsetwidth 25.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the housing 10 ofthe irrigation controller of FIG. 1. In this illustration, the housing10 is shown as uncoupled from or not including circuit board 60. Thehousing 10 includes divider walls 20, which vertically separates side-byside-oriented openings 14 within the first row 12 and openings 18 of thesecond row 16. The housing 10 includes a lower support portion having aplurality of recesses 48 formed within the first row 14 therein. Therecesses 48 are configured to receive a fastening nut 29 (e.g., see nut29 in FIGS. 7 and 11). As illustrated, holes 68 are formed in the lowersupport portion of the housing 10, for securing a portion of a terminalconnector 70 to extend therethrough. It is understood that in someembodiments, a housing 10 may be provided such that a given terminalconnector row area may not include divider walls 20 such that a terminalconnector row area may be formed by one or more elongated openings inthe housing 10. Accordingly, a terminal connector row area may be formedby one or more adjoined openings in the housing 10 arranged in a row.

Turning to FIGS. 5A and 5B, in some embodiments, electrical connectionpads 62 are provided in one or more electrical connection rows on acircuit board 60. In an embodiment, electrical connection pads 62 areprovided at locations of the circuit board 60 that will be aligned withthe openings 14 and 18 of the housing 10. FIG. 5A is a perspective viewof a circuit board 60 with both the first and second electricalconnection rows 64, 66 being provided without electrical connection pads62, in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 5B is a perspective viewof a circuit board 60 with electrical connection pads 62 provided inonly the first terminal connector row 64, in accordance with someembodiments. The electrical connection pads 62 are conductive andlocated on the upper surface of the circuit board 60. Electricalconnection pads 62 may be embodied in a variety of ways, such asdeposited, etched, placed, formed, painted, soldered etc. on the circuitboard 60. In some embodiments, each electrical connection pad 62 is athin, flat piece of conductive metal soldered to the upper surface ofthe circuit board 60.

The electrical connection pads 62 allow an output AC signal to beselectively switched to output terminal connectors of the controller.These electrical connection pads 62 are electrically coupled to otherportions of the circuit board 60 using traces, conductors, conduits orconnection pathways of the circuit board 60, for example, in anembodiment, each electrical connection pad 62 is coupled to a respectiveswitch (not shown) under control of the main control circuit of thecontroller that switches a 24 volt AC signal to the electricalconnection pad 62 and to any wire coupled to that electrical connectionpad 62.

In the illustrated embodiments, the circuit board 60 having rows 64 and66 further include holes 68 formed in the circuit board 60 as well as acorresponding hole 68 defined within the optional electrical connectionpads 62. In some embodiments, the holes 68 are formed in the circuitboard 60 before the electrical connection pads 62 are formed, attached,or deposited. In other embodiments, the holes 68 are formed after theelectrical connection pads 62. In the illustrated embodiments, holes 68are useful to secure terminal connectors 70 to the circuit board 60.

In some embodiments, the first row 64 of electrical connection pads 62(and holes 68) are formed at a front edge 82 of the circuit board 60(see FIG. 5B). Grooves 84 are formed in the circuit board 60 at thefront edge 82 allowing divider walls 20 of the housing 10 to extend intothe space provided by the grooves 84. This assists in aligning thecircuit board 60 and its electrical connection pads 62 in the first row12 of openings 14, while utilizing divider walls 20 to separateside-by-side openings 14 in the first row 12. In accordance with severalembodiments, the second row 16 of openings (and second row 66 ofelectrical connection pads 62) are configured with a ridge portion 26(labeled and referred to in more detail in FIGS. 8, 9 and 11) to createan offset in elevation (about the z axis) and an offset in thehorizontal plane (about the x axis) between wires connected to andexiting the two rows.

Both the first electrical connection row 64 and the second electricalconnection row 66 are located in a first horizontal plane at an upperexterior surface of the circuit board 60. The first electricalconnection row 64 and the second electrical connection row 66 arearranged on the circuit board 60 such that when installed in the housing10, the electrical connection pads 62 of the first electrical connectionrow 64 are aligned with and accessible via the first row 12 of openings14, and such that the second electrical connection row 66 is alignedwith and accessible via the second row 16 of openings 18 (e.g., see theviews of FIGS. 1-3).

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a terminal connector 70 (e.g., screwconnector) and a riser 75 according to some embodiments. Terminalconnector 70 includes a screw 72, having a screw head 74, a lockingplate 78, a threaded post 76, and an optional fastening portion 79. Thefastening portion 79 may be provided and formed integrally with theriser 75. The post 76 passes through a locking plate 78 (e.g., a shapedwasher), which may be secured to a riser 75 (e.g., vertical lift, mount,or standoff) having a riser height 36. The riser 75 has an upper surface75 a and an opposing lower surface 75 b. The post 76 may also passthrough the optional fastening portion 79, such that it engages theopposing lower surface 75 b of the upper portion of the riser 75 forproviding an additional mechanical coupling of the riser 75 to theterminal connector 70. In an embodiment, the fastening portion 79 isalso threaded on an inner surface so as to mechanically engage thethreaded post 76 of the terminal connector 70, further securing theterminal connector 70 to the riser 75.

The riser 75 may be coupled to the circuit board 60 both mechanicallyand electrically. The riser 75 may include a plurality of feet 77 at abase of the riser 75. The feet 77 are configured to extend through andmate with an upper surface of the circuit board 60 at a plurality ofholes 67 or openings that extend through the circuit board 60. The feet77 (or other portion at the base 71 of the riser 75 designated forelectrical and/or physical adjacent contact with the circuit board 60)may also mechanically engage the circuit board 60. As shown in FIG. 7,the feet 77 of the riser 75 may have a circular or rectangular shapethat engages the holes 67 in the circuit board 60. The holes 67 may alsobe circular or rectangular in shape. When the feet 77 are pressed intothe plurality of holes 67 within the circuit board 60, the feet 77engage the circuit board 60 in a snug, mechanical or friction fit withinthe holes 67. This mechanical mating assists with securing the risers 75to the circuit board 60 without them falling out during the assemblyprocess. For example, the electrical connections can be formed byaccessing the lower side of the circuit board 60 at the connectionpoints by soldering or other known methods. In this manner, the feet 77are both electrically and mechanically coupled to the circuit board 60.In the illustrated embodiments of FIGS. 6A and 6B, the riser 75 forms asubstantially U shaped structure (e.g., an upside down U shape from theside as shown best in FIG. 6A) having two vertically extending side orleg portions and a top portion (having upper surface 75 a and lowersurface 75 b, and where the legs have feet 77.

FIG. 7 further illustrates the first and second rows 64, 66 havingterminal connectors 70 fastened to the circuit board 60 in accordancewith some embodiments. In the first row 64, terminal connectors 70 areconnected directly to the circuit board 60, or at an electricalconnection pad 62 on the circuit board 60. In the second row 66, risers75 are secured to the board 60 at holes 67, and the terminal connectors70 are coupled to the risers 75. While electrical connection pads 62 arenot illustrated herein as being present in the second electricalconnection row 66, one of ordinary skill in the art would understandthat risers 75 may also be coupled to electrical connection pads 62 inthe second row 66 in a similar fashion as the first row 64. In theillustrated embodiment, FIG. 7 shows the fastening nuts 29 used in thefirst row 64 to assist in securing the connectors 70, and shows thefastening portions 79 used in the second row 66 to assist in securingthe connectors 70.

Turning to FIGS. 8-11, and as variously illustrated, the housing 10includes a ridge portion 26 (in some embodiments, also referred to as aridge, and a row divider, for example) formed between the first row 12and the second row 16.

The ridge portion 26 includes a first ridge wall 28 extendingsubstantially vertically from a first base 30 of the first row 12 ofopenings 14 of the ridge portion 26. The ridge portion 26 furtherincludes a second ridge wall 34 extending horizontally and parallel tothe circuit board 60. The second ridge wall 34 has an upper surface 34 awith a width 31. It is noted that despite the presence in someembodiments of divider walls 20 in first and second rows 12/16 ofopenings 14/18, generically, the first ridge wall 28 and the secondridge wall 34 are understood to encompass one continuous wall extendingacross the length (about the x axis) of the respective rows or a wallthat is broken up or segmented into sections by divider walls 20.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the irrigation controller ofFIG. 1 with terminal connectors fastened to the terminal connector rows.FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the irrigation controller of FIG. 1 withthe terminal connectors fastened to the terminal connector rows as shownin FIG. 8 and further including wires 80 retained by the terminalconnectors 70 in accordance with some embodiments. In the first terminalconnector row 12, terminal connectors 70 receive a conductive exposedend 88 of a wire 80 and retaining the wire 80 by its conductive exposedend 88 against the respective optional electrical connection pads 62,and in some embodiments against the circuit board 60 directly.Specifically, the post 76 of the terminal connector 70 passes through alocking plate 78 (e.g., washer) and the hole 68 at the electricalconnection pad 62, and tightens into a fastening nut 29 (e.g., ahexagonally shaped nut) on the underside of the circuit board 60. Theexposed end 88 is retained between the locking plate 80 and theelectrical connection pad 62 or circuit board 60.

The terminal connectors 70 in the second terminal connector row 16receive the conductive exposed end of a wire 80 and retain the wire 80by its conductive exposed end against respective risers 75 which arecoupled to the circuit board 60 directly. As illustrated, the exposedends 88 of wires 80 in the second row 16 are positioned under thelocking plate 78, and the screw head 74 is tightened such that theexposed ends 88 are held tightly against the upper surface 75 a of theriser 75. An optional fastening portion 79, which may be integrallyformed with the riser 75, may be provided to further secure the post 76to the riser 75. A clockwise tightening action of the screw head 74helps ensure that the exposed portion 88 of the wire 80 are held tightlyagainst the electrical connection pad 62, circuit board 60, or riser 75.

As further illustrated in FIG. 9, in some embodiments, the second ridgewall 34 is configured to support and guide wires 80 to the second row 66of electrical connection pads 62 to be retained thereagainst. Generally,the structure of the ridge portion 26 and the second ridge wall 34 isconfigured to support the wires 80 retained in the second row 66 ofelectrical connection pads 62 above the wires 80 retained in the firstrow 64 of electrical connection pads 62. In this way, the wires 80connected to the second row 66 of pads 62 (in the second row 16 ofopenings 18) will rest above the wires 80 of the first row 64 of pads 62(in the first row 12 of openings 14). Thus, there will be no risk ofexposed portions of the wires 80 connected to the second row 66 fromcontacting conductive portions of other wires 80 connected to the firstrow 64. It should be observed that the divider walls 20 of the first row12 and the second row 16 provide a separation barrier betweenside-by-side oriented electrical connection pads 62 of the first row 64and/or second row 66 of electrical connection pads 62 to reduce wires 80in side-by-side openings from contacting each other. It is noted thatthe width 31 (y axis dimension in the FIGS.) of the second ridge wall 34will in part define the spatial distance or offset in the y-axis betweenthe first and second row of retained wires 80.

In some embodiments, the x axis offset between wires 80 in thehorizontal plane can be further enhanced by connecting the exposedportions 88 of the wires 80 connected to the terminal connectors 70 ofthe first row 64, by positioning the exposed portions 88 underneathopposing edges (right in one row and left in another) of the lockingplate 78 of the terminal connectors 70 between rows.

FIG. 11 is a cross section of the controller of FIG. 10 across verticalplane A-A. The second ridge wall 34 may also be aligned with,substantially horizontal to, or approximately on a same plane as theupper surface 75 a of the riser 75. It is understood that the parallelalignment of the riser 75 relative to the second ridge wall 34 isapproximate and will be in part a function of how securely the housing10 is attached or secured to the circuit board 60. In the illustratedembodiments, the ridge portion 26 is formed by the housing 10. However,in other embodiments, the ridge portion may be separate from thehousing. For example, the ridge portion may be implemented in a separatehousing or as separate component fixed to the circuit board 60 or toanother support structure that would locate the ridge portion in betweenthe first rows 12 and 64 and the second rows 16 and 66.

In some embodiments, given that the first row 12 and the second row 16of openings (and the first row 64 and the second row 66 of theelectrical connection pads 62) are offset from each other in the x axis(see offset width 25 in FIG. 3), the wires 80 extending from the secondrow exiting the openings of the second row 16 are offset in the x axisfrom the wires 80 extending from the first row exiting the openings ofthe first row 12. As can be seen in FIG. 9, the wires 80 from the secondrow are spatially separated (in the x axis) from the other wires so thatan installer can more easily access the terminal connectors 70 of thewires 80 of the first row 64. This helps to avoid damage or unintendeddisconnections from physically moving wires (by hand or tool) extendingfrom the second rows to expose the wires of the first row. For example,an installer may use the blade of a screwdriver to move or spread thewires from the second row and could unintentionally cut the protectiveinsulator of the wires when moving them or cause them to disconnect fromtheir respective electrical connection pads.

As can be seen, in some embodiments, the structure to provide thevertical offset in the second connector terminal row 16 relative to thefirst terminal connector row 12 can be implemented with minimalcomponents. For example, the risers of FIGS. 6A and 6B are not requiredto be individually or collectively packaged within an integratedinsulating structure surrounding the sides of the risers. That is, insome embodiments, there is no insulating material packaged around agiven riser. Instead of such separating insulating material, the risers75 are spaced on the circuit board such that there is a spacing (alongthe x axis) to ensure that adjacent risers 75 and/or wires 80 extendingtherefrom do not contact each other. And further, rather than aninsulating structure formed about/around the risers 75, the molding ofthe housing 10 (including the openings 14 and 18 with divider walls 20)provide any insulating barrier between adjacent risers 75. In otherwords, through the design of the housing 10 to include insulatingbarriers and circuit board spacing, the risers 75 do not need anyseparate insulating walls or structure.

It is understood that in some embodiments, the housing 10 is a housingfor a traditional stand-alone irrigation controller that includes a userinterface and programming for users to define and program watering andoutput control signaling to connected irrigation valves. In otherembodiments, the housing 10 may be implemented in an irrigationcontroller that lacks a user interface and/or for which some or all ofthe watering programming is done at a remote device in communicationwith the irrigation controller. For example, a remote computer, server,mobile device, smart phone, other irrigation controller, etc. may beused to generate the programming for the controller. As such,generically, in some embodiments, the term “irrigation control unit” or“irrigation control device” is used to at least encompass all suchirrigation controllers. It is further understood that the electricalcomponents that may be coupled or attached to the circuit board 60described herein depend on the specific implementation of the controldevice and are understood in the art. It is further understood that thecontroller may include more than one circuit board, such as one circuitcontaining the main control circuitry and another circuit boardcontaining the output electrical connectors or other backplaneelectrical connectors.

Various systems, devices and methods are provided herein. In someembodiments, an irrigation control device comprises: a housingcomprising: a first row of one or more openings forming a first terminalconnector row; and a second row of one or more openings forming a secondterminal connector row, the second row located adjacent and proximate tothe first row; a circuit board for securing a first plurality ofterminal connectors in the first terminal connector row and a secondplurality of terminal connectors in the second terminal connector row,wherein each of the first and second plurality of terminal connectors isconfigured to receive a conductive exposed end of a wire and retain thewire at the conductive exposed end. The housing further comprises: aridge portion located between the first and second terminal connectorrows, the ridge portion comprising: a first ridge wall extendingsubstantially vertically from a first base of the first terminalconnector row; and a second ridge wall, integrated with the first ridgewall, extending substantially horizontally from a base of the firstterminal connector row; wherein the ridge portion is configured tosupport and guide the wires retained by the second plurality of terminalconnectors above the wires retained by the first plurality of terminalconnectors; and a plurality of risers each having an upper portion, theupper portion being positioned adjacent to the ridge portion, whereinthe plurality of risers is configured to electrically and mechanicallyconnect the second plurality of terminal connectors to the circuit boardat a plurality of discrete connection points.

In some embodiments, the upper portion of each of the plurality ofrisers is substantially on a same horizontal plane as an upper surfaceof the second ridge wall. In some embodiments, at least one of the firstterminal connector row and the second terminal connector row furthercomprises a plurality of electrical connection pads coupled to thecircuit board. In some embodiments, the first and second plurality ofterminal connectors each comprise: a screw, having a head and a post;and a locking plate positioned adjacent to the head, wherein the postextends through the locking plate. In some embodiments, each of theplurality of first terminal connectors is configured to retain theconductive exposed end of the wire between the locking plate and therespective one of the electrical connection pads of the first terminalconnector row.

In some embodiments, each of the second plurality of terminal connectorsfurther comprises: a fastening portion for securing the screw to arespective riser of the plurality of risers. In some embodiments, theconductive exposed end of the wire is held between and against thelocking plate and an upper surface of the upper portion of therespective riser. In some embodiments, the plurality of risersvertically offsets the second plurality of terminal connectors relativeto the first plurality of terminal connectors. In some embodiments, theirrigation control device further comprises a plurality of holes formedin the circuit board corresponding to a location of the plurality ofdiscrete connection points. In some embodiments, each of the pluralityof risers is soldered to the circuit board at a location of theplurality of discrete connection points. In some embodiments, thehousing further comprises divider walls extending from the ridgeportion, the divider walls configured to provide a separation barrierbetween side-by-side oriented terminal connectors within the firstplurality of terminal connectors and between side-by-side orientedterminal connectors and risers within the second plurality of terminalconnectors. In some embodiments, a cross sectional shape of at least oneof the plurality of risers is substantially U-shaped.

In some embodiments, an irrigation control device comprises: a circuitboard; a housing for retaining the circuit board, the housingcomprising: a first terminal connector row and a second terminalconnector row adjacent to the first terminal connector row; a first andsecond plurality of terminal connectors located within the first andsecond terminal connector rows respectively, each of the first andsecond plurality of terminal connectors configured to receive aconductive exposed end of a wire and retain the wire at the conductiveexposed end; and a plurality of risers coupled to the second pluralityof terminal connectors, the plurality of risers configured to provide avertical offset between the second plurality of terminal connectors andthe first plurality of terminal connectors, wherein each of theplurality of risers is secured directly to the circuit board. In someembodiments, the irrigation control device further comprises: a ridgeportion formed by the housing and located between the first and secondterminal connector rows, the ridge portion comprising: a first ridgewall extending substantially vertically from a base of the firstterminal connector row; and a second ridge wall, integrated with thefirst ridge wall, extending substantially horizontally from the base ofthe first terminal connector row, wherein the second ridge wall isconfigured to support and guide the wires retained by the secondplurality of terminal connectors above the wires retained by the firstplurality of terminal connectors.

In some embodiments, the housing further comprises divider walls,located in the first and second terminal connector rows, the dividerwalls configured to provide a separation barrier between side-by-sideoriented terminal connectors within the first plurality of terminalconnectors and between side-by-side oriented terminal connectors andrisers within the second plurality of terminal connectors. In someembodiments, the first terminal connector row is horizontally offset inthe first horizontal plane from the second terminal connector row suchthat the wires exiting the second terminal connector row arehorizontally offset from the wires exiting the first terminal connectorrow. In some embodiments, the plurality of risers is soldered to thecircuit board at a plurality of discrete connection points. In someembodiments, the first and second plurality of terminal connectors eachcomprises: a screw, having a head and a post; and a locking plateadjacent to the head, the post extending through the locking plate. Insome embodiments, each of the second plurality of terminal connectorsfurther comprises: a fastening portion for securing the screw to arespective riser of the plurality of risers, the fastening portion beingintegrally formed with the riser and positioned about the post. In someembodiments, an exposed portion of the wire is held between and againstthe locking plate and an upper surface of the upper portion of therespective riser.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of othermodifications, alterations, and combinations can also be made withrespect to the above described embodiments without departing from thescope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, andcombinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventiveconcept.

What is claimed is:
 1. An irrigation control device comprising: ahousing comprising: a first row of one or more openings forming a firstterminal connector row; and a second row of one or more openings forminga second terminal connector row, the second row located adjacent andproximate to the first row; a circuit board for securing a firstplurality of terminal connectors in the first terminal connector row anda second plurality of terminal connectors in the second terminalconnector row, wherein each of the first and second plurality ofterminal connectors is configured to receive a conductive exposed end ofa wire and retain the wire at the conductive exposed end; and whereinthe housing further comprises: a ridge portion located between the firstand second terminal connector rows, the ridge portion comprising: afirst ridge wall extending substantially vertically from a first base ofthe first terminal connector row; and a second ridge wall, integratedwith the first ridge wall, extending substantially horizontally from abase of the first terminal connector row; wherein the ridge portion isconfigured to support and guide the wires retained by the secondplurality of terminal connectors above the wires retained by the firstplurality of terminal connectors; and a plurality of risers each havingan upper portion, the upper portion being positioned adjacent to theridge portion, wherein the plurality of risers is configured toelectrically and mechanically connect the second plurality of terminalconnectors to the circuit board at a plurality of discrete connectionpoints.
 2. The irrigation control device of claim 1, wherein the upperportion of each of the plurality of risers is substantially on a samehorizontal plane as an upper surface of the second ridge wall.
 3. Theirrigation control device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the firstterminal connector row and the second terminal connector row furthercomprises a plurality of electrical connection pads coupled to thecircuit board.
 4. The irrigation control device 3, wherein the first andsecond plurality of terminal connectors each comprise: a screw, having ahead and a post; and a locking plate positioned adjacent to the head,wherein the post extends through the locking plate.
 5. The irrigationcontrol device of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of firstterminal connectors is configured to retain the conductive exposed endof the wire between the locking plate and the respective one of theelectrical connection pads of the first terminal connector row.
 6. Theirrigation control device of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality ofrisers further comprises: a fastening portion for securing the screw toa respective riser of the plurality of risers, the fastening portionbeing integrally formed with the riser and positioned about the post. 7.The irrigation control device of claim 4, wherein the conductive exposedend of the wire is held between and against the locking plate and anupper surface of the upper portion of the respective riser.
 8. Theirrigation control device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of risersvertically offset the second plurality of terminal connectors relativeto the first plurality of terminal connectors.
 9. The irrigation controldevice of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of holes formed in thecircuit board corresponding to a location of the plurality of discreteconnection points.
 10. The irrigation control device of claim 1, whereineach of the plurality of risers is soldered to the circuit board at alocation of the plurality of discrete connection points.
 11. Theirrigation control device of claim 1, wherein the housing furthercomprises divider walls extending from the ridge portion, the dividerwalls configured to provide a separation barrier between side-by-sideoriented terminal connectors within the first plurality of terminalconnectors and between side-by-side oriented terminal connectors andrisers within the second plurality of terminal connectors.
 12. Theirrigation control device of claim 1, wherein a cross sectional shape ofat least one of the plurality of risers is substantially U-shaped. 13.An irrigation control device comprising: a circuit board; a housing forretaining the circuit board, the housing comprising: a first terminalconnector row and a second terminal connector row adjacent to the firstterminal connector row; a first and second plurality of terminalconnectors located within the first and second terminal connector rowsrespectively, each of the first and second plurality of terminalconnectors configured to receive a conductive exposed end of a wire andretain the wire at the conductive exposed end; and a plurality of riserscoupled to the second plurality of terminal connectors, the plurality ofrisers configured to provide a vertical offset between the secondplurality of terminal connectors and the first plurality of terminalconnectors, wherein each of the plurality of risers is secured directlyto the circuit board.
 14. The irrigation control device of claim 13,further comprising: a ridge portion formed by the housing and locatedbetween the first and second terminal connector rows, the ridge portioncomprising: a first ridge wall extending substantially vertically from abase of the first terminal connector row; and a second ridge wall,integrated with the first ridge wall, extending substantiallyhorizontally from the base of the first terminal connector row, whereinthe second ridge wall is configured to support and guide the wiresretained by the second plurality of terminal connectors above the wiresretained by the first plurality of terminal connectors.
 15. Theirrigation control device of claim 13, wherein the housing furthercomprises divider walls, located in the first and second terminalconnector rows, the divider walls configured to provide a separationbarrier between side-by-side oriented terminal connectors within thefirst plurality of terminal connectors and between side-by-side orientedterminal connectors and risers within the second plurality of terminalconnectors.
 16. The irrigation control device of claim 13, wherein thefirst terminal connector row is horizontally offset in the firsthorizontal plane from the second terminal connector row such that thewires exiting the second terminal connector row are horizontally offsetfrom the wires exiting the first terminal connector row.
 17. Theirrigation control device of claim 13, where in the plurality of risersis soldered to the circuit board at a plurality of discrete connectionpoints.
 18. The irrigation control device of claim 13, wherein the firstand second plurality of terminal connectors each comprises: a screw,having a head and a post; and a locking plate adjacent to the head, thepost extending through the locking plate.
 19. The irrigation controldevice of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of risers comprises: afastening portion for securing the screw to a respective riser of theplurality of risers, the fastening portion being integrally formed withthe riser and positioned about the post.
 20. The irrigation controldevice of claim 18, wherein an exposed portion of the wire is heldbetween and against the locking plate and an upper surface of the upperportion of the respective riser.